Ooh! Suggestion for a future show: Best split stay combinations! If you have one week, and you have to do three nights at one DVC resort and four nights at another, what’s your split stay combination and why?
Ahhh! Cannot disagree more about the Polynesian unpopular opinion. It’s definitely dated and retro and needs a bit of a facelift. But that’s part of what I love about it. It’s therapeutic being there... I immediately felt nostalgia even never having been there before, on a recent trip. I sat on a balcony and let the warm breeze blow my hair around, soaked in the surroundings, listened to that beautiful music... and I completely fell in love with the place. I love the whole of the resort.
AKL as a "waste of points" is a matter of perspective. Locals can use it as a staycation and will have car to access the other parks. Out of towners/states are there for vacation (visiting parks). Those folks may not have a car and have to rely on buses.
1000% agree with Pete re: Bay Lake Tower. Location, excellent dining and easy access to Top of the World Lounge/fireworks are massive “value adds” that make theme park vacationing (fun- but can be a grind) so much easier IMHO...
We love the Beach Club for a number of reasons, most of all location and we have stayed at Boardwalk, not our favorite. Also Cape May Restaurant we do not eat fish so you can guess our opinion on that! We are DVC Members for 16 years and own at Saratoga and Copper Creek Tom and Maureen LINY
We stayed at AK kidani in a 2 bedroom with a family of 5 ( the extra bathroom) and we liked it so much, we bought our first contract and the food is the best on property. And the cost point is one of the lowest.
The beach comment for the Poly hit home for me. Amazing memories of sitting on the beach at the Poly with a Dole Whip..looking out at the water..watching fireworks and listening to the music with low light. Wow. I love all the deluxe resorts on property for different reasons, but none of them created that.
Love AKL.. One of our best memories is coming back from Epcot one night and 2 giraffes were knelled down sleeping right outside our window. Talked to a cast member the next day and was told giraffes only sleep like that for about 30 minutes. Awesome experience.
I just got back from Hawaii. We stayed at the Marriott down the street from Aulani where my parents are owners. The Marriott resort is gorgeous, but Aulani is truly something special. Disney is so good at creating atmosphere and transporting you to a time and place. Everything about it makes you *feel* the spirit of Hawaii. The grounds and pool areas are incredible and there are so many delightful little nooks to discover. I would love to be able to stay there one day.
Topolinos is one of the few places besides Chef Mickey's where you can see Mickey and Minnie at the same time. And since it's on the skyliner it's easier for families to get to from those resorts. I'll be trying for a reservation in June 2022 for those reasons even though the price is high.
Just got done with my first vacation at Animal Kingdom Lodge; I loved it!! I didn’t think the bus rides were long at all. I would definitely stay there again! We had animals off our balcony every day!!
On your recommendation we have placed our contract with dvc resale. Thank you for the peace of mind we have with these realtors and for not having to search and gamble on some other group. ❤️
Our first DVC stay was a split stay; the first part was at the beach club, and we loved everything about it; my son could have gone to the pool everyday and we walked to DHS & EPCOT. When we transferred to Boardwalk, it was a different story. It was like a maze getting around and those hallways are LONG. Not to mention we drive and getting from our room to the car was a nightmare. Never again.
Agree with Pete about BLT. I can list all the same reasons as to why we bought at Bay Lake, but it really all boiled down to the vibe of the place; it just fit us and we knew it when we walked in.
Animal Kingdom point charts offer great bang for the buck. Definitely not a waste of points. While it’s not our home resort, we love it as an alternative to our (beloved) Wilderness Lodge, and it is a perfect choice one leg of a split stay. A friggin savanna for a part of your WDW stay?! DVC membership at its finest.
Going to have to agree with Bay Lake Tower. We toured not too long ago and between the curvature of the building and the overcrowding of the room I had a full panic attack and had to be walked out of the building. That’s the one I will not bother stepping foot in again.
I don’t currently own DVC but if I take the plunge I would make AKL my home resort. Cost, savanah, dining options, rooms and resort experience make it so appealing for my family. In total agreement that BLT is cold and sterile and the only appeal for me would be the proximity to MK and monorail - which is not worth the superior price.
OK. Agree with Pete. Bay Lake Tower is amazing. I am biased as I have amassed 1,000+ there in the secondary market (300+ just since the start of the pandemic... I have been working double time for a year... rewarding myself during a year of hell). Made an offer on another contract tonight. I repeat: Bay Lake Tower is amazing.
We are staying at the POLY next month for our first stay as DVC owners, the reason, like Pete said, all the Disney history that is associated with that resort. We wanted to make our first DVC trip as historic as possible......our 2nd trip is already booked and we are staying at the Boardwalk just for convenience to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.....and of course the resaturants
What I find strange is how Hawaii was "concerned" about what a Disney resort would look like on the Island, but every other hotel that I have seen, are just standard hotels. The 4 Seasons is ugly, the Marriott is boring, plus that monstrosity of a hotel that Atlantis wanted to build and got approved, shows that they are really not the concerned about hotels keeping with any cultural elements. I think that someone did not like Disney and wanted to give them grief.
Topolino's breakfast is All That! You're paying the same high prices for the other character breakfasts but they don't serve quiche, steak, etc. The characters come by often dancing to the charming European music and then you can walk out onto the beautiful terrace. Disney set the bar high with this one💞
Beach Club has WEIRDLY designed rooms. The kitchen is weird as is that weird stick out thing from the kitchen that is too small for a table but gets in the way.
We stayed at BCV as part of a split stay for our first DVC trip. Agreed. Overrated. The pool was fine. But unless you get a great weather day for the pool ( we didn't) it kinda sucks. For location to Epcot fab. But I wouldn't be going to Epcot every day.
Pete is correct, Saratoga Springs is a "real spa" experience. I had a spa appointment at the Beach Club and the cost was the same at Saratoga Springs, but it was not worth the money. It wasn't a bad experience per se, but I would not go there again. I was staying at the Boardwalk and so it was convenient but I will take the extra time to drive to Saratoga Springs from whatever Resort I'm staying in unless it's the Grand Floridian of course.
We used to own at AKV.....I know this opinion will be unpopular, but we found the savannah overrated. Our kids would spend 10 minutes on the first day watching animals and that would be it. Loved the resort overall, but the savannah wasn't a big plus for us.
I like that BLT feels smaller. It is perfect for us who like the parks and visiting surrounding resorts. Of course other resorts are great and theme is better but BLT is crammed there just to serve the purpose it does and it remains popular overall. I do wish the grounds were nicer or had some sort of WOW factor.
I love you guys...best reality tv going today. Im watching this episode again and want to comment: In regards to Polynesian, while the dvc lobby of our building was a little outdated (july 2021) the rooms had been updated (Amazing) wo Moana...yay! We had a lake view. Years before at MK, we did a Keys to the Kingdom tour and to "Marishka's" comment it was to represent a preview of Adventureland...GF was a preview of Main Street, Contemporary previews Tomorrowland, and Wilderness Lodge for Frontierland. Losing the Poly Luau ( for DVC hi-rise) makes me sad cause it reminds me of Disneyland losing its Adventureland Luau many decades ago. The poly luau show had a part of the show that hilighted 1960's Hollywoods version of girls in tinsel grass skirts as well as multiple versions of the 7 Polynesian cultures. And Pete, we need a t-shirt that says "Animal Kingdom Lodge....it's got a freakin' savannah!" I love that resort, we usually stay a night or 2 there for our AK Park days. We are from Georgia and can use our DVC points often, but with current WDW park issues, Genie+, required park reservations, we had 2 day park tickets and didnt purchase any more for a 5-night stay, where we spent each night in a different dvc resort each night: 1-Saratoga went to Disney Springs Mall, 2-Wilderness Lodge Copper Creek, ate at Geyser Point and toured lobby, 3-Grand Floridian 1 bdrm followed by MK day, 4- BLT toured monorail hotels and their gift shops, ate at California Grill and saw MK fireworks from their rooftop, Boardwalk 1 bdrm (home resort) went to Disney Studios, then hopped to Epcot. Great use of points with minimal park days. I do think 1 bdrm units should spend the $100 per room on a toilet in the master bath....c'mon, it has 2 bathroom, each with a sink and a means to bath/shower, but you should only pee in one of them...whats that about? ...and w/o the toilet int the master bath do you even need a sink to wash your hands? lol. I enjoy you shows!
Between Beach Club and Boardwalk, I definitely like Boardwalk better. The first time we went to Beach Club, we were SO EXCITED for Stormalong Bay, but when we go there and realized that the part of the Lazy River was well over 6' deep, that kind of turned us off. To top it off while the slide itself is really cool, the layout is a bit convoluted. You have to walk across a public walkway to get to the pirate ship that contains the slide. The issue we have is that my son is non-verbal autistic, so we don't like to leave him along. I'd have to go with him to the slide while my wife would have to hang back by the pool so she could be by the exit. That's the only Disney pool where it takes two of us to do the slide with him and I can imagine that anyone with small children will have the same issue. Finally, I was also pretty peeved when in the last remodel around 5 years ago they removed the Jetted Hot Tubs in the Villas and replaced them with soaking tubs. The year prior they had remodeled Boardwalk and yet Boardwalk KEPT their Jetted Tubs. Boardwalk has a very fun Carnival vibe to it, the dance clubs the entertainment, the restaurants ... all works together to give it a much more "Fun" atmosphere than what I've felt at Beach Club.
Being an owner at Beach Club and absolutely loving it we find it is so hard to stay anywhere else. We’ve stayed at Boardwalk which to us feels more hotel-like. Still great location as we are Epcot people. Love ending every day at Epcot. We also own at Boulder Ridge and love the resort especially during holidays. Both Beach Club and Boulder Ridge are in need of room remodel. We are booked for Saratoga Springs and looking forward to our stay but my husband just yesterday said “are we going to wish we booked Beach Club?” I told him think about all the shopping and eating we can do at Disney Springs🤣
Not a dvc member, but I love these shows.I’ve always wanted to try board walk, because it’s near Epcot.I’ve never stayed at animal kingdom, that hotel is also on my bucket list.
Totally agree about animal kingdom! Im totally impressed with this resort. Not sure distance is a material issue since you are still on WDW property. Most unique.
Beach Club is totally overrated. The rooms are ok but nothing great. Storm along bay is ok but at the end, its a pool. The only thing that sets BCV apart from the rest IMO is the back exit that is super close to Epcot.
There are hardly any pools that compete with Storm in the state especially considering it is a sand pool. I like that back exit too as you mentioned and may not call this my top 3 resort but that pool is not just a basic pool.
AKV is fine for a couple trips. I wouldn't own DVC though to stay at a resort not going to WDW though. I am paying a premium for DVC to have that close access to parks. Plenty of places to visit in the world otherwise.
I am not a DVC member but I recently watched a video about a woman who is a member. Her UNPOPULAR OPINION is she likes to use her points for cruises. I liked the case she made for it. Her name is Auburn Hunhmann and the video is titled "My favorite way to use DVC points."
AKL is TOO damn far away even from its own park. Poly is a wonderful resort and not a bit tacky. BTW Pat what is your reference to comment the way you did? How many Asian/Poly nations have you travelled to make this judgement?
11:10: I've stayed in both Jambo House at the value one bedroom and Jamba house at the regular one bedroom and also at kidani at both the one bedroom and the two bedroom. First of all if you have any kids, macadamia you're getting an extra bathroom that you're not getting at Jambo. Also the pool area at kidani with its splash pad is a little bit more kid friendly than the one at Jambo. All of the restaurants at the animal kingdom resorts even the quick service are all TOP NOTCH. I would stay at kidani just to have the Oxtail from Sanaa! Add to that the fact that you've got the Savannah there, add to that the activities like being able to watch the animals at night with the night vision goggles. All of the extra activities both paid and free that are available. There isn't another resort on Disney property anything like Animal Kingdom Resort. Unless you're one of those people that from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep you want to spend all of that time at the Disney parks, I just can't see how it's possible that anyone would think that animal kingdom is not worth the points! Hell in September, you can get a one-bedroom Villa with a full kitchen for as little as 17 points per night with the value rooms. Or just 20 points per night in the standard rooms at kidani that have TWO bathrooms. Where else at Disney can you get that kind of Value?
I agree AKL is simply the best DVC at WDW. Theming, dining, savannah and rooms are just top notch. I think BLT is slightly overrated but not to a large extent. If it had quick service coffee cart or something in it, and a bit of a refresh would be nice but it's still #2 behind AKL to me in DVC hierarchy. Poly to me is overrated in that their dining isn't the experience it could be. That would have been my unpopular opinion.
No way is the Poly or Topolino's Terrace overrated. The Poly is a beautiful resort with great dining and the villas are HUGE and well done. And Topolino's is a great value for breakfast. You get all the food you could want and some very unique items like the hash and some great character interaction as well. I've never had a bad meal there.
Can someone help me understand the idea / benefits of owning (or buying DVC points) at more than one property. Currently, our 'home' resort is Boardwalk. What are the benefits of owning points at more than one DVC resort.
Hi Jo! I'm Derek w the DVC Resale Market and by adding on points as a member at a DIF resort you would then have that Home Resort priority with points at each resort! So say you had 200 at Saratoga and did 100 at Boardwalk...you could then use those 100 Boardwalk points to book there 11 months out (or 200 points every other year) - you can COMBINE all your points at the 7 month mark (meaning your Saratoga points can't ever be used to book a different resort than Saratoga more than 7 months out) - I hope that helps but email me with any questions at derek@dvcresalemarket.com
If both are available I always book BWV . I was surprised when I stayed at BCV . I liked the proximity to the parks and the Ariel statue.I found myself wishing I was at BWV. For those of you that don’t speak DVC..., BWV=Boardwalk Villas BCV=Beach Club Villas DVC=Disney vacation club
I don't like Boardwalk Villas personally, when I have stayed there the rooms smelled musty and in my mind must always equates to mold! Plus that 70's style analog thermostat is annoying. I like Beach Club better, the rooms may not be perfect but I haven't stayed at a room that smelled musty. But I'd rather stay at a Crescent Lake resort than anywhere else :)
"The straight guy version of clutching pearls!" Yes! They do that head back thing! I stayed at Yacht Club and was underwhelmed. The Beach Club side is even more generic. Most people can go to a beach. You can even get the real thing 90 minutes away at Vero Beach! I spent a lot of time hanging out at Boardwalk's beautiful lobby and porch. Much better. Wow, I can't imagine anyone not liking the Poly. Its decor is not supposed to evoke the real life Polynesia. It's a mid-century to early 70s tiki-based esthetic, which was enormously popular at the time. And yes, it's about charm and nostalgia. It's WDW history and it's American history of the time.
I watch shows on youtube and think of how fun it'd be to be friends with them. Id love to hang out with Pete at dinner. You know hed be honest. "Hey my steak is cold.....send this shit back." lol
Can't agree with these "opinions". Poly is exactly what I remember from my first trip in 1976 and walking into the resort take me right back as it should. Love BLT as it is an updated version of Contemporary without ruining Contemporary "Jetsons" charm. AKL has a savannah as was stated but maybe a standard view room makes this not worth it. Coming up on my second stay there and looking forward to it. Haven't stayed at BC or eaten at Topolino's (yet) so no comment
Secretly hoping my Saratoga Springs contract gets ROFR'ed so I have an excuse to buy AKV instead. Otherwise I might have add-on-itis before I even use my first point.
It is no longer true that all DVC owners have access to all resorts. Riviera resale owners can only stay in one. 🤦♀️ Resale owners at other DVC‘s as of Jan. 2019, cannot access Riviera or future resorts. 🤦♀️ It’s like someone at Disney is cutting the best part of DVC.... and still I will stay resale as I save thousands of $$ buying resale!!! I will not give into manipulation!! I will keep my $$ and enjoying the original group of resorts - I think 14 options are GOOD!! 😎🌴
Ok Paul and his Wife should be banned. To speak negatively about the Poly is just so off base. The rooms make you feel like you have escaped and are not in Florida. The beach, the view, the vibe, the quiet pool and bar, the access to boats, monorail, the Luau (not for authentic, but for unique to resort), the photos in the main building of early Disney World including Auntie Kau’i. Paul speaking of wanting refurb also is alarming. Refurbs at most DVC have taken away the character of the resorts, from removal of hidden Mickeys to making the rooms look feel like any hotel room (speaking of studios specifically). Paul will definitely be a fan of the (as Pete & Kevin call it) Lakeside Homewood suites/rehab.if they ever put it back on the calendar :-).
I do have to agree with the one guy I don't think they liked our being close to Magic Kingdom makes it that great of a place to stay. It's so cold and uninviting. I feel like the only thing that saves it is because it's close to the theme park.
So agree - Topolino’s even during Pandemic times is the best character breakfast! Had so much fun there, with amazing food and service! Way better than Chef Mickey’s!
Agreed. It was fabulous You can order as much as you want (order other entrées as sides if you think you need to) and the characters are great. I loved being able to sit in one place and enjoy my meal, being served. Plus the lemoncello cocktail at breakfast was fab!
As much as I love these shows the material isn’t relevant right now. I just watched Pete carry on about how great the restaurants are in Jambo house. I was there a week ago. It’s a ghost town! Nothing open but a pathetic version of Mara. Who knows what those restaurants will be like if/when they open. These segments should be prefixed with “Living in the Past!”
have to agree animal kingdom is way overrated. We stayed there Savanah view and we had a terrible back savanah view. Our room was so far away we had to walk it felt like a mile. One thing we noticed over at Kidani the pool was very buggie. Seriously with all the trees over the pool just sitting in the pool chairs we had bugs etc...snack went past our chair..Not a fan of animal kingdom Kidani.
You don't even need to go to Topolino's to know its overpriced. $50+/person ($42+tax+tip) for breakfast? Like come on you are crazy take off the Disney glasses. Also "more than one entrée" is hit or miss and not something you can count on otherwise possibly you could make an argument if it was AYCTE
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Hey!!! I got mentioned on the show!!! Thanks guys.
When I cross the bridge into Adventureland I'm a kid again, every time. Poly is an extension of the adventure.
Ooh! Suggestion for a future show: Best split stay combinations! If you have one week, and you have to do three nights at one DVC resort and four nights at another, what’s your split stay combination and why?
I got 4 nights Kidani, 10 nights Grand Floridian coming up in February 👍🏻
Ahhh! Cannot disagree more about the Polynesian unpopular opinion. It’s definitely dated and retro and needs a bit of a facelift. But that’s part of what I love about it. It’s therapeutic being there... I immediately felt nostalgia even never having been there before, on a recent trip. I sat on a balcony and let the warm breeze blow my hair around, soaked in the surroundings, listened to that beautiful music... and I completely fell in love with the place. I love the whole of the resort.
I’m with Pete on Bay Lake. Also, Poly is exactly what it should be; an evocative resort based on that 70s vibe of Disney/Pacific island mash up.
AKL as a "waste of points" is a matter of perspective. Locals can use it as a staycation and will have car to access the other parks. Out of towners/states are there for vacation (visiting parks). Those folks may not have a car and have to rely on buses.
1000% agree with Pete re: Bay Lake Tower. Location, excellent dining and easy access to Top of the World Lounge/fireworks are massive “value adds” that make theme park vacationing (fun- but can be a grind) so much easier IMHO...
We love the Beach Club for a number of reasons, most of all location and we have stayed at Boardwalk, not our favorite. Also Cape May Restaurant we do not eat fish so you can guess our opinion on that! We are DVC Members for 16 years and own at Saratoga and Copper Creek Tom and Maureen LINY
We stayed at AK kidani in a 2 bedroom with a family of 5 ( the extra bathroom) and we liked it so much, we bought our first contract and the food is the best on property. And the cost point is one of the lowest.
The beach comment for the Poly hit home for me. Amazing memories of sitting on the beach at the Poly with a Dole Whip..looking out at the water..watching fireworks and listening to the music with low light. Wow. I love all the deluxe resorts on property for different reasons, but none of them created that.
Love AKL.. One of our best memories is coming back from Epcot one night and 2 giraffes were knelled down sleeping right outside our window. Talked to a cast member the next day and was told giraffes only sleep like that for about 30 minutes. Awesome experience.
I just got back from Hawaii. We stayed at the Marriott down the street from Aulani where my parents are owners. The Marriott resort is gorgeous, but Aulani is truly something special. Disney is so good at creating atmosphere and transporting you to a time and place. Everything about it makes you *feel* the spirit of Hawaii. The grounds and pool areas are incredible and there are so many delightful little nooks to discover. I would love to be able to stay there one day.
Topolinos is one of the few places besides Chef Mickey's where you can see Mickey and Minnie at the same time. And since it's on the skyliner it's easier for families to get to from those resorts. I'll be trying for a reservation in June 2022 for those reasons even though the price is high.
Just got done with my first vacation at Animal Kingdom Lodge; I loved it!! I didn’t think the bus rides were long at all. I would definitely stay there again! We had animals off our balcony every day!!
On your recommendation we have placed our contract with dvc resale. Thank you for the peace of mind we have with these realtors and for not having to search and gamble on some other group. ❤️
March 2020, Sept 2020 and Jan 2021, had dinner there with different groups and everyone loved the meal. Topolino's is the top
Our first DVC stay was a split stay; the first part was at the beach club, and we loved everything about it; my son could have gone to the pool everyday and we walked to DHS & EPCOT. When we transferred to Boardwalk, it was a different story. It was like a maze getting around and those hallways are LONG. Not to mention we drive and getting from our room to the car was a nightmare. Never again.
Agree with Pete about BLT. I can list all the same reasons as to why we bought at Bay Lake, but it really all boiled down to the vibe of the place; it just fit us and we knew it when we walked in.
With Disney Magical Express ending just rent a car, park for free at animal Kingdom lodge and go where you wanna go
Animal Kingdom point charts offer great bang for the buck. Definitely not a waste of points. While it’s not our home resort, we love it as an alternative to our (beloved) Wilderness Lodge, and it is a perfect choice one leg of a split stay. A friggin savanna for a part of your WDW stay?! DVC membership at its finest.
Thank you Derek! Agree 100% about BLT!!
Going to have to agree with Bay Lake Tower. We toured not too long ago and between the curvature of the building and the overcrowding of the room I had a full panic attack and had to be walked out of the building. That’s the one I will not bother stepping foot in again.
I don’t currently own DVC but if I take the plunge I would make AKL my home resort. Cost, savanah, dining options, rooms and resort experience make it so appealing for my family. In total agreement that BLT is cold and sterile and the only appeal for me would be the proximity to MK and monorail - which is not worth the superior price.
It has a freakin' savannah! It's so true and I couldn't stop laughing! Love listening to you guys because you don't hold anything back.
"All Fiasco needs is a toothless old woman giving him a backrub, and that's a spa." LOL.
OK. Agree with Pete. Bay Lake Tower is amazing. I am biased as I have amassed 1,000+ there in the secondary market (300+ just since the start of the pandemic... I have been working double time for a year... rewarding myself during a year of hell). Made an offer on another contract tonight. I repeat: Bay Lake Tower is amazing.
We are staying at the POLY next month for our first stay as DVC owners, the reason, like Pete said, all the Disney history that is associated with that resort. We wanted to make our first DVC trip as historic as possible......our 2nd trip is already booked and we are staying at the Boardwalk just for convenience to Epcot and Hollywood Studios.....and of course the resaturants
The points cost is higher at BC than most other resorts
What I find strange is how Hawaii was "concerned" about what a Disney resort would look like on the Island, but every other hotel that I have seen, are just standard hotels. The 4 Seasons is ugly, the Marriott is boring, plus that monstrosity of a hotel that Atlantis wanted to build and got approved, shows that they are really not the concerned about hotels keeping with any cultural elements. I think that someone did not like Disney and wanted to give them grief.
Topolino's breakfast is All That! You're paying the same high prices for the other character breakfasts but they don't serve quiche, steak, etc. The characters come by often dancing to the charming European music and then you can walk out onto the beautiful terrace. Disney set the bar high with this one💞
Beach Club has WEIRDLY designed rooms. The kitchen is weird as is that weird stick out thing from the kitchen that is too small for a table but gets in the way.
My take on The Polynesian is Walt Disney meets Gilligans Island. I have great memories of being there once as a kid and it’s al about nostalgia.
The POLY decor reminds me of the Polynesian themed restaurants that I visited in South FL when I was a kid in the 80's. It's nostalgic.
We stayed at BCV as part of a split stay for our first DVC trip. Agreed. Overrated. The pool was fine. But unless you get a great weather day for the pool ( we didn't) it kinda sucks. For location to Epcot fab. But I wouldn't be going to Epcot every day.
Pete is correct, Saratoga Springs is a "real spa" experience. I had a spa appointment at the Beach Club and the cost was the same at Saratoga Springs, but it was not worth the money. It wasn't a bad experience per se, but I would not go there again. I was staying at the Boardwalk and so it was convenient but I will take the extra time to drive to Saratoga Springs from whatever Resort I'm staying in unless it's the Grand Floridian of course.
Also AKV is relatively close to the off-site Cracker Barrel. (Closest to our home is 50 miles away.)
Beach club two bedroom villas are tiny that’s why we purchased at boardwalk.
We used to own at AKV.....I know this opinion will be unpopular, but we found the savannah overrated. Our kids would spend 10 minutes on the first day watching animals and that would be it. Loved the resort overall, but the savannah wasn't a big plus for us.
I like that BLT feels smaller. It is perfect for us who like the parks and visiting surrounding resorts. Of course other resorts are great and theme is better but BLT is crammed there just to serve the purpose it does and it remains popular overall. I do wish the grounds were nicer or had some sort of WOW factor.
I love you guys...best reality tv going today. Im watching this episode again and want to comment: In regards to Polynesian, while the dvc lobby of our building was a little outdated (july 2021) the rooms had been updated (Amazing) wo Moana...yay! We had a lake view. Years before at MK, we did a Keys to the Kingdom tour and to "Marishka's" comment it was to represent a preview of Adventureland...GF was a preview of Main Street, Contemporary previews Tomorrowland, and Wilderness Lodge for Frontierland. Losing the Poly Luau ( for DVC hi-rise) makes me sad cause it reminds me of Disneyland losing its Adventureland Luau many decades ago. The poly luau show had a part of the show that hilighted 1960's Hollywoods version of girls in tinsel grass skirts as well as multiple versions of the 7 Polynesian cultures. And Pete, we need a t-shirt that says "Animal Kingdom Lodge....it's got a freakin' savannah!" I love that resort, we usually stay a night or 2 there for our AK Park days. We are from Georgia and can use our DVC points often, but with current WDW park issues, Genie+, required park reservations, we had 2 day park tickets and didnt purchase any more for a 5-night stay, where we spent each night in a different dvc resort each night: 1-Saratoga went to Disney Springs Mall, 2-Wilderness Lodge Copper Creek, ate at Geyser Point and toured lobby, 3-Grand Floridian 1 bdrm followed by MK day, 4- BLT toured monorail hotels and their gift shops, ate at California Grill and saw MK fireworks from their rooftop, Boardwalk 1 bdrm (home resort) went to Disney Studios, then hopped to Epcot. Great use of points with minimal park days. I do think 1 bdrm units should spend the $100 per room on a toilet in the master bath....c'mon, it has 2 bathroom, each with a sink and a means to bath/shower, but you should only pee in one of them...whats that about? ...and w/o the toilet int the master bath do you even need a sink to wash your hands? lol. I enjoy you shows!
I agree with Sean about Poly.. it's the 70's version of "Modern Polynesian/tropical" theming. Today it's nostalgic.
Between Beach Club and Boardwalk, I definitely like Boardwalk better. The first time we went to Beach Club, we were SO EXCITED for Stormalong Bay, but when we go there and realized that the part of the Lazy River was well over 6' deep, that kind of turned us off. To top it off while the slide itself is really cool, the layout is a bit convoluted. You have to walk across a public walkway to get to the pirate ship that contains the slide. The issue we have is that my son is non-verbal autistic, so we don't like to leave him along. I'd have to go with him to the slide while my wife would have to hang back by the pool so she could be by the exit. That's the only Disney pool where it takes two of us to do the slide with him and I can imagine that anyone with small children will have the same issue. Finally, I was also pretty peeved when in the last remodel around 5 years ago they removed the Jetted Hot Tubs in the Villas and replaced them with soaking tubs. The year prior they had remodeled Boardwalk and yet Boardwalk KEPT their Jetted Tubs. Boardwalk has a very fun Carnival vibe to it, the dance clubs the entertainment, the restaurants ... all works together to give it a much more "Fun" atmosphere than what I've felt at Beach Club.
The Poly and AKL are hands down my absolute favorite resorts!!!
This is why we own and LOVE AKL and Kidani. What Pete said. The end.
Being an owner at Beach Club and absolutely loving it we find it is so hard to stay anywhere else. We’ve stayed at Boardwalk which to us feels more hotel-like. Still great location as we are Epcot people. Love ending every day at Epcot. We also own at Boulder Ridge and love the resort especially during holidays. Both Beach Club and Boulder Ridge are in need of room remodel. We are booked for Saratoga Springs and looking forward to our stay but my husband just yesterday said “are we going to wish we booked Beach Club?” I told him think about all the shopping and eating we can do at Disney Springs🤣
Beach club does not have three-bedroom villas which our family uses many times.
What a beautiful greyhound 👍
The Polynesian reminded you of staying at summer camp? Was that Camp-Mom-&-Dad-Got-Bucks? 20:21-20:31
And I will be staying at AKL and it has a Savanna!!! Go Pete from Jersey 😎
Not a dvc member, but I love these shows.I’ve always wanted to try board walk, because it’s near Epcot.I’ve never stayed at animal kingdom, that hotel is also on my bucket list.
Pete has four words why AKL Villas are not a waste of points. "It has a freakin' savannah!!!" Close enough.
Beach rooms are not the greatest, but i OWN there for Three Reasons: Location, Pool, Ice Cream!
Totally agree about animal kingdom! Im totally impressed with this resort. Not sure distance is a material issue since you are still on WDW property. Most unique.
The spa at Aulani is heavenly!
Can’t wait to someday visit Friggin’ Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. Sounds epic.
How have these people in the real estate business forgotten “location, location, location”? The hardest resorts to book have proximity to a park.
Beach Club is totally overrated. The rooms are ok but nothing great. Storm along bay is ok but at the end, its a pool. The only thing that sets BCV apart from the rest IMO is the back exit that is super close to Epcot.
There are hardly any pools that compete with Storm in the state especially considering it is a sand pool. I like that back exit too as you mentioned and may not call this my top 3 resort but that pool is not just a basic pool.
AKV is fine for a couple trips. I wouldn't own DVC though to stay at a resort not going to WDW though. I am paying a premium for DVC to have that close access to parks. Plenty of places to visit in the world otherwise.
I am not a DVC member but I recently watched a video about a woman who is a member. Her UNPOPULAR OPINION is she likes to use her points for cruises. I liked the case she made for it. Her name is Auburn Hunhmann and the video is titled "My favorite way to use DVC points."
AKL is TOO damn far away even from its own park. Poly is a wonderful resort and not a bit tacky. BTW Pat what is your reference to comment the way you did? How many Asian/Poly nations have you travelled to make this judgement?
Tiki theming is alive and well, and if folks fail to see that charm, then they have some culturing to do. It's a vibe.
I own at Bay Lake and love it, however I think the pool is too small.
11:10: I've stayed in both Jambo House at the value one bedroom and Jamba house at the regular one bedroom and also at kidani at both the one bedroom and the two bedroom. First of all if you have any kids, macadamia you're getting an extra bathroom that you're not getting at Jambo. Also the pool area at kidani with its splash pad is a little bit more kid friendly than the one at Jambo. All of the restaurants at the animal kingdom resorts even the quick service are all TOP NOTCH. I would stay at kidani just to have the Oxtail from Sanaa!
Add to that the fact that you've got the Savannah there, add to that the activities like being able to watch the animals at night with the night vision goggles. All of the extra activities both paid and free that are available. There isn't another resort on Disney property anything like Animal Kingdom Resort. Unless you're one of those people that from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep you want to spend all of that time at the Disney parks, I just can't see how it's possible that anyone would think that animal kingdom is not worth the points!
Hell in September, you can get a one-bedroom Villa with a full kitchen for as little as 17 points per night with the value rooms. Or just 20 points per night in the standard rooms at kidani that have TWO bathrooms. Where else at Disney can you get that kind of Value?
I agree AKL is simply the best DVC at WDW. Theming, dining, savannah and rooms are just top notch. I think BLT is slightly overrated but not to a large extent. If it had quick service coffee cart or something in it, and a bit of a refresh would be nice but it's still #2 behind AKL to me in DVC hierarchy. Poly to me is overrated in that their dining isn't the experience it could be. That would have been my unpopular opinion.
P.S. Is there a minimum point purchase you need to invest on a second property?
I agree Topolinos not good with price or food for breakfast
No way is the Poly or Topolino's Terrace overrated. The Poly is a beautiful resort with great dining and the villas are HUGE and well done. And Topolino's is a great value for breakfast. You get all the food you could want and some very unique items like the hash and some great character interaction as well. I've never had a bad meal there.
Can someone help me understand the idea / benefits of owning (or buying DVC points) at more than one property. Currently, our 'home' resort is Boardwalk. What are the benefits of owning points at more than one DVC resort.
Hi Jo! I'm Derek w the DVC Resale Market and by adding on points as a member at a DIF resort you would then have that Home Resort priority with points at each resort! So say you had 200 at Saratoga and did 100 at Boardwalk...you could then use those 100 Boardwalk points to book there 11 months out (or 200 points every other year) - you can COMBINE all your points at the 7 month mark (meaning your Saratoga points can't ever be used to book a different resort than Saratoga more than 7 months out) - I hope that helps but email me with any questions at derek@dvcresalemarket.com
I thought the 4 words were going to be Boma, Jika, Sanaa, and Mara. He got to those but not as the 4/5 words
If both are available I always book BWV . I was surprised when I stayed at BCV . I liked the proximity to the parks and the Ariel statue.I found myself wishing I was at BWV. For those of you that don’t speak DVC...,
BWV=Boardwalk Villas
BCV=Beach Club Villas
DVC=Disney vacation club
I don't like Boardwalk Villas personally, when I have stayed there the rooms smelled musty and in my mind must always equates to mold! Plus that 70's style analog thermostat is annoying. I like Beach Club better, the rooms may not be perfect but I haven't stayed at a room that smelled musty. But I'd rather stay at a Crescent Lake resort than anywhere else :)
Great video yet again! Keep up the good work :)
"The straight guy version of clutching pearls!" Yes! They do that head back thing! I stayed at Yacht Club and was underwhelmed. The Beach Club side is even more generic. Most people can go to a beach. You can even get the real thing 90 minutes away at Vero Beach! I spent a lot of time hanging out at Boardwalk's beautiful lobby and porch. Much better. Wow, I can't imagine anyone not liking the Poly. Its decor is not supposed to evoke the real life Polynesia. It's a mid-century to early 70s tiki-based esthetic, which was enormously popular at the time. And yes, it's about charm and nostalgia. It's WDW history and it's American history of the time.
I watch shows on youtube and think of how fun it'd be to be friends with them. Id love to hang out with Pete at dinner. You know hed be honest. "Hey my steak is cold.....send this shit back." lol
I’m just curious how many points does Pete own?
I believe that he said in a past show 1200 or somewhere around there?
Can't agree with these "opinions". Poly is exactly what I remember from my first trip in 1976 and walking into the resort take me right back as it should. Love BLT as it is an updated version of Contemporary without ruining Contemporary "Jetsons" charm. AKL has a savannah as was stated but maybe a standard view room makes this not worth it. Coming up on my second stay there and looking forward to it. Haven't stayed at BC or eaten at Topolino's (yet) so no comment
Thank you another good show
Secretly hoping my Saratoga Springs contract gets ROFR'ed so I have an excuse to buy AKV instead. Otherwise I might have add-on-itis before I even use my first point.
It is no longer true that all DVC owners have access to all resorts. Riviera resale owners can only stay in one. 🤦♀️
Resale owners at other DVC‘s as of Jan. 2019, cannot access Riviera or future resorts. 🤦♀️
It’s like someone at Disney is cutting the best part of DVC.... and still I will stay resale as I save thousands of $$ buying resale!!! I will not give into manipulation!!
I will keep my $$ and enjoying the original group of resorts - I think 14 options are GOOD!! 😎🌴
In my opinion, Bay Lake Tower is for city lovers. I’m not one.
I love the poly definitely not tacky.
Ok Paul and his Wife should be banned. To speak negatively about the Poly is just so off base. The rooms make you feel like you have escaped and are not in Florida. The beach, the view, the vibe, the quiet pool and bar, the access to boats, monorail, the Luau (not for authentic, but for unique to resort), the photos in the main building of early Disney World including Auntie Kau’i.
Paul speaking of wanting refurb also is alarming. Refurbs at most DVC have taken away the character of the resorts, from removal of hidden Mickeys to making the rooms look feel like any hotel room (speaking of studios specifically). Paul will definitely be a fan of the (as Pete & Kevin call it) Lakeside Homewood suites/rehab.if they ever put it back on the calendar :-).
I have owned DVC for 19 years and the only thing Poly feels like you have escaped to is an episode of The Brady Bunch.
I do have to agree with the one guy I don't think they liked our being close to Magic Kingdom makes it that great of a place to stay. It's so cold and uninviting. I feel like the only thing that saves it is because it's close to the theme park.
What? Topolinos is our favorite breakfast of all time and also, not the most expensive. I believe Chef Mickey's Garbage Pail cost more.
So agree - Topolino’s even during Pandemic times is the best character breakfast! Had so much fun there, with amazing food and service! Way better than Chef Mickey’s!
Agreed. It was fabulous You can order as much as you want (order other entrées as sides if you think you need to) and the characters are great. I loved being able to sit in one place and enjoy my meal, being served. Plus the lemoncello cocktail at breakfast was fab!
As much as I love these shows the material isn’t relevant right now. I just watched Pete carry on about how great the restaurants are in Jambo house. I was there a week ago. It’s a ghost town! Nothing open but a pathetic version of Mara. Who knows what those restaurants will be like if/when they open. These segments should be prefixed with “Living in the Past!”
Agreed, Sean on chef Mickey's and topolino's
Talking about Aulani doesn't make Disney's Polynesian a great resort. I love the Disney resorts but I just don't enjoy the Polynesian.
Pete so makes me laugh! 😄
The Polynesian looks like the Jakarta International Airport.
Hey! I listen on iTunes so I can do other things while I’m listening! 😅
"All Fiasco needs is a toothless woman".... Jaw hits floor
Nice ring Pete
Paul was my favorite until his poly comment. 🤨
have to agree animal kingdom is way overrated. We stayed there Savanah view and we had a terrible back savanah view. Our room was so far away we had to walk it felt like a mile. One thing we noticed over at Kidani the pool was very buggie. Seriously with all the trees over the pool just sitting in the pool chairs we had bugs etc...snack went past our chair..Not a fan of animal kingdom Kidani.
You don't even need to go to Topolino's to know its overpriced. $50+/person ($42+tax+tip) for breakfast? Like come on you are crazy take off the Disney glasses. Also "more than one entrée" is hit or miss and not something you can count on otherwise possibly you could make an argument if it was AYCTE
If you say things twice in a row, it automatically makes it true
The retro vibe at the Polynesian is great, but it is done at the expense of an entire culture.